Aeroplane



Aug. 14, 1928.

v o.L. R. JONES AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. 0856M: 1.19. Jams AT RNEY.

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,523

0. L. R. JONES AEROfLANE Filed Jan. 16, 1925 s Sheets-$heet 5 INVEN TOR. our/nus LR J' /vzs ATT Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

onsms L. a. JONES, or nnrnorr, mrornem.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,828.

This inventionrelates to aeroplanes,-and has for its rimary object theconstruction of an aerop ane that will be more buoyant and at the same time more stable than the planes now in general use.

, Another object of this invention is the provision of an aeroplane wing or plane extending lengthwise over the fuselage, said plane tapering from a comparatively wide central portion to a blunt point at the front and a sharper point atthe rear.

A further object ofthis invention is the arrangement of a longitudinal plane with a central keel slightly lower than the side extremities of the plane, whereby wind pres sure tends to maintain the plane horizontal, the bow of the plane being inclined upwardly from approximately one-third of the dista-nce of the keel to give the plane a rising or riding tendency.

A further object. of this-invention is the suspension of the body of the aeroplane below the central keel with connections to the longitudinal wing at o posite sides of the keel and adjacent the side extremities of the wing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of lateral ribs 011 the longitudinal 7 plane of varying curvature arranged so as buoyancy of the aeroplane is enhance to. aid in retaining the air currents beneath the plane until passed over, wherebg the Other objects and advantages will be apparent. from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment of my invention and wherein simi lar reference numerals designate similar parts throughoutthe several views.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a'front elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the longitudinal plane with parts broken away-to show the interior construction thereof. f

Fig; 4 is a detail section taken substam' tially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8.]

assist in supporting the aeroplane in the air, the fiat bottom extending the entire Fig. 5 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 5-5-of Fig. 3. 5

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. i a Fig. 7 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 9 is a detail section taken substantially'on the line 9-9 ofjFig. 3. a

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the body of an aeroplane otany desired size and interior design, it being understood that my invention is adaptable for use with various arrangements of body constructions equipped with substantially all engines suitable for aeroplane use. Accordingly, no attempt has been I made to illustrate or describe any particular construction of the body or fuselage,'the showing in Figs. 1 and 2 being merely for purposes-of exemplifieation. In the embodiment shown, I mount the body centrally below the wing or plane 6 and suspend the body from points adjacent the sidesof the plane, whereby the weight of the body will aid in maintaining the aeroplane in a substantially horizontal position, and tend to right the aeroplane quickly whenever it as sumes a position out. of the horizontal. The bottom of the body 5 is preferably flat to length of the body substantially as shown in F ig. 1 and serving as an auxiliary supporting surface in direct contact with the air currents. g Y

The wing or plane 6 is preferably arranged longitudinally of the body 5 and is formed with a comparatively wide central portion tapering to a blunt point at. the front end and a sharper point at the rear (Note Fig. 3), the head or how of the plane being inclined upward from a point about one-third of'the distance of the plane, as best illustrated in Fi 1. The plane 6 com prises a central keel arrangedsli htlylowas car than the side extremities of the plane,

whereby it tends to keep the plane right side up, and a plurality of ribs 8 of varymg curvature substantially as shown in Figs. l to 9 inclusive. The edges of the several ribs 8 are connected by side members 9, and the plane is covered above and below with fabric or other suitable material. The keel 7 extends fromthe front to the rear of the plane 6 and is curved substantially as shown in Fig. 1 to form the lower line of the plane. This curvature includes a slant downward from the bow 6 of the plane to the lowermost point (5" thereof, which point is preferably arranged about one-third of the distance of the plane from the bow, and then a gradual upward incline from the lowermost point 6" to the rear extremity of the plane. The several ribs 8 are secured at their central portions to the keel 7 and at their edges to the side strips 9. The lower portions of the ribs 8 are graduated in shape from a slight curve adjacent the bow to a com paratively deepcurve at the widest portion of the plane, and then gradually resuming a straight shape as they approach the stern of the plane. The purpose of the curvature of the ribs 8 is to secure the maximum buoyancy for the plane, the air currents impinging against the sloped forward portion of the plane to give it a. rising or riding tendency and then being retained under the wide central portion of the plane as long as possible. The curvature of the under side of the plane 6 from the central keel toward the sides of the plane also serves to turn the air currents toward the sides of the plane in passage.

The body 5 is arranged below the central keel 7 of the plane 6, and is suspended from the plane by means of struts 1O diverging from the sides of the body to points adjacent the side edges of the plane ti (note Fig. 2). This suspension of the body at opposite sides of .the keel and from points widely separated from the keel tends to maintain the plane in a horizontal position and afford the body a minimum movement during flight. Suitable guy wires 11 may be arranged to aid the struts 10 in 511 )porting the body 5 from the plane 6. The lower extremities of the struts 10 are preferably secured to auxiliary planes 12 fixed upon the sides of the body 5 substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These auxiliary planes serve the triple purpose of holding the struts and guy wires, of assisting in the mounting and dismounting of pasengers, and of increasing the buoyancy of the aeroplane by increasing the supporting surface contacted by the air currents.

Any suitable landing gear 13 may be secured upon the body 5, as well as any suit able guiding mechanism 14: for controlling the vertical and horizontal movements of the plane. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated one arangement of landing gear and guiding trated embodiment of my mechanism, but it is to be understood that my invention does not reside in these features of the aeroplane, and so no attempt has been made to show completely operative structures.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the ribs 8 as extending laterally across the keel 7, it is apparent that the desired curvature .of the wing 6 may be secured with ribs arranged parallel to the keel 7.

lVhile it will be apparent that the illusinvention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The con'ibination with an aeroplane body, of a plane arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel with that of the body, the plane being formed with a central keel inclined upwardly from a lower central portion toward both the front and rear of the plane, and with cross ribs curving laterally from the keel to the side extremities of the plane, the cross ribs being of different lengths with the longest at the central portion of the keel.

, 2. The combination with an aeroplane body, of a plane arranged with its lon itudinal axis parallel with that of the lJOt the plane being formed with a central keel inclined upwardly from a lower central portion toward both the front and rear of the plane and with cross ribs curving laterally from the keel to the side extremities of the plane, the curvature and lengths of said ribs differing being longest and deepest at the lower central portion of the plane and with gradually diminishing lengths and curvature toward the front and rear of the plane.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination with a plane having a wide central portion and pointed front and rear portions, of a body suspended from the plane with its longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the plane, the points of attachment of the suspending means with the plane being adjacent the side edges of the plane.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination with a plane having a wide central portion and pointed and front and rear extremities provided with a central keel extending the on tire length of the plane and inclined from a lowered central portion upwardly to the front and rear extremities of the plane, of a body arranged beneath the plane with its longitudinal axis in vertical alignment with the central keel of the plane, and connecting members arranged between the sides of the body and the plane, the oints of attachment of the suspending mem ers with the plane being adjacent the side edges of the plane.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with a plane having a wide central portion and polnted front and rear extremities provided with a central keel extending the entire length of the plane and inclined from a lowered central portion upwardly t0 the front and rear extremities of the plane, of a bod arranged beneath the plane with its longitudinal axis in vertical alignment with the central keel of the plane, and connecting members arranged between the sides of the body and the plane, the bod being formed with a flat bottom throng out its entire length and serving as an auxiliary supporting surface in contact with the air currents.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

ORSEMUS L. R. J ONES. 

